Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, so right now, it’s pretty ugly here for the next week and a half. We’ve got a solid, consistent reef at Kohala Lighthouse (Hawaii), and it’s an exposed, advanced spot that likes a northerly swell. But the forecast is just hammering us with cross-shore winds and messy, lumpy conditions for days.

For Saturday the 15th, we’re looking at a severe gale with 50 mph cross-shore winds and a huge, chaotic 20-foot east swell—that’s well over 8 feet and only for experts, but honestly, with that wind, it’s unsurfable. The combined swell energy is a massive 7211 and the period is a long 10 seconds, but with gale-force cross-shore it’s just a washing machine.

Sunday the 16th morning is the first time we get a bit of a breather, with a 8-foot east swell at 8 seconds. The wind drops to just 3 mph, almost glassy, but it’s cross-shore, so we’re still dealing with a light cross-chop. The energy is moderate at 1336. Still, this is the best we’re going to see for a while, though the score is marginal. It’s a small window of slightly cleaner surf, but the direction is east, not the ideal north swell.

From Monday the 17th right through to Saturday the 23rd of August, it’s just poor surf conditions every day. Swell hangs around 4 to 6 feet, but the period drops to a short 6 to 8 seconds, and the wind stays a fresh 15 to 21 mph cross-shore, creating a lumpy, cross-chop. The energy is weak to moderate, barely cracking 300 in places. Not much to get excited about.

Then from Sunday the 24th up to Wednesday the 27th of August, things stay poor. Swell is small—3 to 5 feet—but the wind is still fresh and cross-shore or cross-onshore. The combined energy is in the weak-to-moderate range (117 to 380). Honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, there is a flicker of hope way out at the end. On Thursday the 27th of August morning, we start seeing a long-period groundswell creeping in from the east at 17 seconds, with 5 to 5 feet of swell. The energy jumps up to 1318, which is moderate. But the wind is still a fresh 18 mph cross-shore. It’s marginal. This trend continues into Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of August, with the swell building to 6 feet and the period holding at 16 to 17 seconds. Energy is getting strong—over 2000. Still, that cross-shore wind is the killer.

Finally, on Sunday the 30th of August morning, we get a bigger pulse: 10 feet east-northeast swell with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is a strong 3857. The rating improves to a 2 out of 10, so it’s at least marginal now, not just poor. But again, cross-shore wind at 18 mph—that’s still a fresh breeze and lumpy. This long-period swell would be incredible if the wind cooperated, but it’s just not lining up. For a reef like Kohala Lighthouse, that long period and big size could produce some grinding waves, but with the wind so wrong, it’s a tease.

So, the standout, if you can call it that, is the Sunday the 16th morning session—glassiest wind of the whole period, 8-foot east swell, and the most relaxed vibe. For the second week, the 27th through the 30th has the biggest, longest-period swell, but those cross-shore winds will keep it from being truly clean. It’s promising, but less certain.

Rusty

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